Winter Performance Recap
We have had a wonderful December full of exciting performances for both our dance and theater students. Our many performers ranged in age and experience from four year-olds in their first production to seasoned professional adults!
Aladdin KIDS!
On December 3rd our young performers ages 4-7 performed Aladdin KIDS at the St. Matthews stage in Hoboken. Directors Mari Linder, Jackie Mercandetti, and Erin Murray Quinlan directed a show-stopping performance with lots of fun choreography and singing. Highlights included ‘Arabian Nights’, ‘One Jump’ and of course ‘A Whole New World’! Congratulations to the entire cast on a fantastic performance.
A Christmas Carol
Sunday, December 4th the Acting Initiative performed an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story ‘A Christmas Carol’. The ensemble flexed their acting muscles through playing multiple parts, developing unique characters for each one. Steven Schmidt played the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Congratulations to the cast and director Anne Brummel on their dynamic and compelling production!
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
This summer we were honored to be chosen as the host school for the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker performance in Wayne, NJ!
On September 27th Ballerina Olga Aru came to Garden Street to host auditions and cast performers in the roles of Party Children, Mice, Snowflakes, Snow Maidens, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian Variations. Those cast went on to rehearse with Olga for a week, leaning the choreography to the show. Students rehearsed under the direction of Garden Street instructors Jacqui Dean, Ju Yeun Lee, and Joanna Barry for 10 weeks from September to December.
On December 8th the 25 dancers, featuring our outstanding students, performed alongside The Moscow Ballet to a sold out crowd at William Paterson University. The 10 hour day included costume fittings, a photo session, and rehearsal with the cast prior to the performance.
We could not be prouder of the excellent work of our dancers onstage! Congratulations to everyone involved!
To see more about the audition process check out the video made by William Paterson University here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74yF0bIUbso
Christmas Spectacular Field Trip
Garden Street Student Finn Douglas currently stars as Ben in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! Finn performs daily (sometimes 3 performances in a day!) to audiences with 6,000 people. We coordinated a special field trip for Garden Street students to see Finn in his production on November 27th. The kids had so much fun watching Finn in the show and meeting him at the stage door afterwards! Congratulations Finn!
Christmas from the Emerald Isle with McLean Avenue Band
This past Sunday, December 18th, our Advanced Irish Step performed with instructor Joanna Barry’s dance group Emerald Fire in a special Holiday performance.
The show featured Irish music, song, and dance. Our students were honored to be a part of the exciting show and to perform alongside their instructor at the Shea Center for the Performing Arts.
A Hoboken Tale
Capping off our December performances was our fifth annual production of ! Our cast of 37 performed at the Hopes Stage in three performances on December 16th and 17th.
This musical was entirely written and composed by Garden Street owner Dan McLoughlin. The production has become a treasured tradition in Hoboken with audience favorite songs such as ‘Christmas in Hoboken’ and ‘Longest Night of the Year’.
Members of the Garden Street Musical Theater company rehearsed under the direction of Mari Linder for 14 weeks. The cast included local professionals in featured roles: Dan McLoughlin as Mr. Fabrini, Alex Kirby as Mr. Krubbs, Florence Pape as Doris, and Joanna Barry as Bridgette. In addition to choreographing the show, Jackie Mercandetti performed alongside Garden Street ballet students Grace Campbell, Grace Conlin, Adele Tanini, and Ava Guzman as the Fairy Queen.
A huge congratulations to the performers and crew on this amazing production!
With the excitement of December performances over, we would like to wish everyone in the Garden Street community happy and safe holidays!
We can’t wait to get back in January and get to work on our Winter classes and productions. To sign up for any of our classes CLICK HERE.
